As readers venture into any story, they will realize that they will find a journey is being told. The film American Beauty and the novel The Scarlet Letter both use the archetypal hero’s journey and supporting images of power to emphasize that finding individuality can lead to fulfillment and rebirth, desires we all share. In the case of American Beauty and The Scarlet Letter, both narratives share the required journey pattern of departure, fulfillment and return in their quests. The departure phase in American Beauty exhibits Lester as he diverges from his suburban life norms to fulfill his own wants and therefore, leaves his job. In this scene, Lester writes his goodbye to the company saying, "...my job consists of basically masking…show more content… Lester only reaches his fulfillment stage by feeling empowered through buying his dream hot rod, smoking marijuana, and working out to impress the object of his lust, Angela. In four separate scenes, Lester shows very teenager-esque behaviors. When Lester’s wife, Carolyn, questions him on whose red hot rod lies in the driveway, he replies, “Mine. 1970 Pontiac Firebird. The car I always wanted and now I have it. I rule!” Lester’s nonchalant tone of voice that reveals he just wishes to do whatever he wants from now on. Notwithstanding the orderly, socially acceptable life he knew before, he extinguishes all the norms that he so…show more content… The narrator states, “Never afterwards did it quit her bosom” (Hawthorn 392 ) to emphasize that Hester always kept her Scarlet A showcased. Using her talent with the needle, Hester properly showcases her wrongdoings on her chest not to parade around with pride, but to take responsibility and pay for her sins. Hester could have easily fled elsewhere with a new identity and not face the same repercussions for which the town condemned her, but she chose to stay in close proximity to the town. Every remark, attack and rejection that came her way, she took without protest. However, her community could not completely erase
